Electric cooking-range



F. KUHN AND J. A. HAND.

A ELECTRIC COOKING RANGE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.2I. 1918.-

1,376,208. Patented Apr. 26, 19241.

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ELECTRIC COOKING RANGE. 4 APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, Hals.

1,376,208. Patented API'. 26, 1921..

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UNITED STATES PATENT oFFICE.

FRANK KUHN AND J AY A. HAND, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN LASSIGNORS T AMERICAN ELECTRICAL HEATER COMYPANY, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, e A OORPORATION OIv MICHIGAN.

ELECTRIC COOKING-RANGE.

Application led February 21, 1918. Serial No.- 218,407.

T o all lwhom t may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK KUHN and JAY A. HAND, both citizens of the United States of America, both residing at Detroit, in the. county of Wayne and State of M1ch1- gan, lhave invented certain' new vand useful Improvements in Electric Cooking-Ranges, of which the following is a specification7 reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to electric cooking ranges, and has reference to various features of construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings: Figure l is a front elevation of the range; Fig. 2 is a cross-section substantially' on line 2 2 Fig. l.;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view; Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section on line 412-4: Fig. l; U

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showingone of thecover plates for the the range.

Our improved range comprises a top section having a plurality ofsurface heatin units; also ovens arranged at one side o the top 'section and havin independentunits. The switches controlling the several units are all arranged in front of the top section and are suitably marked to designate the particular' units which are con` trolled thereby. One of the features of the invention is the construction 'and arrangement of mounting for these switches and the association therewith of fuse cut-outs in such relation that the operator may conveniently replace a blown fuse without detailed knowledge of the construction of the range. Another feature is the manner of mounting the heating units on the top section so that they may be easily interchanged. These units are of a type in which a naked resistor is placed in a rooved refractory plate, and our improve construction provides for the protection of the unit while permitting the exchange. y

In detail, A is the top section having the back-plate B, and the oven C at one end.

thereof beneath which is arrangeda broiler oven D. E is a shelf extending along the back, atthe level of the top of the oven C, the eneral arrangement being siniilar to that o gas ranges. The'top section A is top section of formed byl a marginal frame F preferably formed of angle barsv with an intermediate dlvision bar F', and 'withpairs of supporting bars G G GP2-G3 for the several heatmg units, 'said bars being belowjthe level of the top of the frame and being secured attheir ends tothe angle bars F.

The units H for the top section of the rectangular in form and centrally cut away to fit about the unit. Externally these plates are all of Nthe same dimensions and are therefore interchangeable, but the central apertures are formed to receive units o-f various sizes. The plates I are'secured in position by spring clip members J depending therefrom and having a snap engagement with the bars lF yand F". The clips J are preferably detachably engaged with the plates J by providing the latter withstraps J2 riveted or spot-welded to the underside of the plate, which permits of replacing a broken clip when necessary. When all of the cover plates are in position the entire space between units will be covered and the cover plates will'be Hush with the tops of the units. Y

s As above stated, all of the units of the top section as well as those for the ovenv are controlled by switches arranged in front of the top section; These switches K are mounted upon a bar K secured to supporting brackets K2, .the arrangement being such that theswitches are inclined upward and are horizontally in line with each other.

In' front of these switches is a detachable cover plate L similarly inclined and having depressed portions L forming recesses in vwhich theswitch handles are located. This will protect the handles from catch- -in`g`upon the clothing of the operator, and

the plate L may also have` marked thereon suitable indications for the switches.

Below the switches K there is a compartment which is formed above'the main frame M, supporting the top section and ovens. '1n this compartment are arrangedy the fuse cutouts N which are in line with each other and are'vertically in substantial alinement with their respective switches. Suitable electrical connections are made to these fuse cut-outs from the service line and from the cut-outs to the switches. yThe conductors from the switches in turn lead to the severalheating units both in the open top section and in the ovens. These conductors are protected from water or any other material on the top, first, by the cover plates d, and further by a pan O' which is arranged beneath the bars G G', etc. U are insulator blocks which pass through and are sealed into the bottom of the pan 0 and through which the conductors P for the top units are passed. These conductors are carried upward and are secured to the terminal contacts P of the units,l which latter are not secured to the frame but merely rest in the pans I upon the bars G G', etc. The construction is therefore one which permits of quickly detaching and replacing the unit, or exchanging the units in positions so that where they are of diere'nt sizes they may be arranged wherever most convenient. This arrangement Vis also permitted by making all of the cover plates J interchangeable, as previously described.-

The ovens C and D are also provided with heating units, there being a unit Q for the bottom of the ov'en C and a unit R which" which are engageable with sockets S placed in the rear wall of the oven. This rear wall I as well as rthe side walls of the oven is tions can be passed. The back U -is rovided wlth` one or more removable pans to facilitate ready access to the electrical connections.

Intermediate the upper and lower ovens C and D thele is al artition wall V having thermal insulation therein. The bottom of the door openin for the upper oven is above the artition -deflects the airy heated by the unit to the opposite sides of the oven. The unit R is supported by guideanges X at the top `01E 'pan O so as to form a pocket- V2 1n whic the unit Q is placed, and above this unit there is a pan and shield W which the ovens C and D, which also guide the unit inward with the terminals in registration with their sockets.

It is desirable to clearly indicate whenever current is passing through any of the severalcircuits and the best indication is an 'electric light. lnasmuch, however, as the units when, all in operation draw a relatively heavy current it 1s impractical to lace a signal light in series therewith. e have therefore provided a controlling device by which the passage of current from the main line'to one or more of the units will close a separate circuit for the. signal lamp. This controller preferably consists of an electromagnet Y having a heavy coil capable of carrying the maximum current drawn by the range and an armature Y which when attracted by the magnet will close the electric circuit Y2 including the signal light Z. This signal light is preferably mounted in a socket beneath the shelf E, and thetfront rail E on the shelfjs cut away at E2 to form a window, preferably covered with red glass. T he controller may be placed in the same compartment which contains the fuse cutouts N, where it will bel protected from injury and at the same time is accessible for adjustment or repairs.

With the construction as describedl in use, the top section of the range may be used in the same manner as a gas or coal range, and the several units are controlled by switches in front thereofc There are also adjacent switches which control the units forthe. ovens.

Whenever any one ofthe switches is turned on, the circuit for the signal light Z will be closed by the controller Y and the illumination will continue as long as any unit is in operation. Should water or any othermaterial be spilled `upon the top it is prevented from finding access to the electrical connections by the cover plates l and the The cover plates may be removed whenever necessary, and if it is desired to exchange the positions of the units this may be quickly accomplished and the cover plates correspondingly eiclflanged,u

' The arrangement of the unit Qi .in the pocket V2 inthe oven bottom provides full space within the oven equal to the area of the door' opening. Tf it is desired to obtain access to the switches the plate L may be to receive the respective units and interchangeably mounted on said frame to close the openl spaces thereof.

2. In an electric stove, the combination with an open rectangular frame, of a plurality of heating units varying in size, interchangeably arranged within said frame, and rectangular shields, apertured to engage the respective units interchangeably, mounted on said frame to cover the open spaces of different portions thereof.

3. In an electric stove, 'thel combination with an open rectangular frame, of a shield or closure for said frame formed of a plurality of interchangeable rectangular sections, and interchangeable heating units varying in size engaging diferent sections of said shield.

f 4. In an electric stove, the combination with an open frame, of a heating unit supported within said frame, a shield or cover surrounding said unit and closing the open spaces of said frame, and snap engagement means for retaining sald shield upon said frame.

5. In an electric stove, the combination with an open frame, of an electrical heating unit supported 'within said frame, a shield apertured to surround said unit and covering theopen spaces of said frame, and

a. plurality of spring clips depending from said shield and having a snap engagement with said frame.

6. In an electric stove, the combination with a frame having a top section and an oven section adjacent thereto and extending thereabove, of a pocket formed in the bottom of said .oven below the level of said frame, an electrical heating unitv in said pocket, and a shield or bottom above `said, heating unit.

'7 .In an electric stove, the combination with a 4frame having a top section, of an oven supported on Said frame provided with heat insulating walls, a heating unitI for said oven having terminal contacts at the rear thereof, an electrical insulator arrangedv within the heat insulation of the rear-wall of said oven provided withv socket contacts for engagement with the contacts on said unit, a false back'for said frame, and electrical conductors passing between said oven and false. back.

In testimony .whereof we aiix our signatures. Y

FRANK KUHN. JAY A. HAND. 

